Letter from G. E. Valley Jr. to Professor Harold Hancock enclosing Marian Steuart's notes on Martha Cummins Ringgold, which conflict with Frances D. Cummins's memory that Martha never married, and handing the puzzle back to him.

[Notebook p. 132. Copy of GEV's typed letter to Professor Harold Hancock, pasted in.] October 10, 1986

Professor Harold Hancock Otterbein College Westerville Ohio 43081

Dear Professor Hancock:

I have a letter from Marian Steuart (copy enclosed in confidence) about Martha Cummins Ringgold, the wife of C. W. Clayton Ringgold, and the mother of Helen Cummins Ringgold and Clarence Ringgold. (I am beginning to suspect that the name "Cummins Ringgold" may have been given to Clarence (by a Census taker) while he was as yet unborn. That appellation was also awarded my grandfather, then unborn, in the Census of 1850 (and quoted by Frances D. in one of the papers you were kind enough to send me). Anyhow, Martha had at least two and possibly three children, and she died at the age of 46 on Aug. 21, 1884.

But as you see, Marian's notes on the Queen Anne's County chancery records are violently at odds with Frances's memories. Is there really a head stone for Martha in St. Peter's cemetery? Could Frances have confused Martha Rebecca with her daughter Helen? Helen indeed did not marry, and as far as I know she did live in Smyrna. She too should be buried in St. Peter's, I would think.

I hand this puzzle back to you. Clearly somebody needs to look at the archives again. Since Martha was only a collateral relative, I shall report this confusion as an amusement, unless you or someone else can resolve it.

Sincerely yours, [signed] George George E. Valley, Jr.

Printed on October 10, 1986, FILE VLCMI3